Scan barcode
river_jean_sterling's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Child death
Minor: Racism
chloe_acceber's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
There's a reason this book is a classic. Personally, I found the writing a bit of a slog to get through and some of the chapters just fully unnecessary. An entire chapter of the little newsletter the girls put together for their "gentleman's club", for example. It's a nice world builder, but to me felt far longer than it should have been. We're reading the story from Jo's perspective, I don't feel I need pages and pages of her poetry. The characters feel very real, and the conflicts that arise feel organic to the characters and their environment. Even as old as this book is, some aspects of life don't ever change. Siblings that love each other fiercely, and challenge each other even more so. The changes we all encounter entering our 20's and facing down adulthood-marriage, parenting, job prospects. And of course, the consistency of loss. It gives a nice window into what life was like for a working class, white family in the 1870's.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Classism, Death, and Terminal illness
Minor: War
camoo3032's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It's a sweet book but feels a bit like a sermon at times
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, War, Death, and Child death
Minor: Medical content, Ableism, Fatphobia, Grief, Alcohol, Classism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
kiwichill's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Child death, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, and Racism
kelleykamanda's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such a warm and beautiful classic. Though some parts have aged and the story can be slow at times- it’s truly a masterpiece in its own right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Chronic illness, and Death
Minor: Child death
kristenreads's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Death
blau_elmo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The cult classic two-part coming-of-age novel. A riveting human drama featuring relationships, courtships, friendships, familial bonds, ambition, the individualism of women, freedom, travelling, sickness, grief and so much more, who doesn't love the blissful and hopeful stories of the March sisters?
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy are unique in their own ways, which is something that, I feel, the Virgin Suicides tries but fails to replicate. The responsible and hopeless romantic eldest sister, Megan. The capricious and fiercely independent, but self-loathing at times Josephine. The demure, gentle and compassionate Elizabeth. And finally, the mischievous but thoughtful, sprightly and free Amy. Their uniqueness makes their interactions so much more fun and realistic.
This is, in my opinion, the quintessential family/love human drama, one that will last throughout the ages.
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy are unique in their own ways, which is something that, I feel, the Virgin Suicides tries but fails to replicate. The responsible and hopeless romantic eldest sister, Megan. The capricious and fiercely independent, but self-loathing at times Josephine. The demure, gentle and compassionate Elizabeth. And finally, the mischievous but thoughtful, sprightly and free Amy. Their uniqueness makes their interactions so much more fun and realistic.
This is, in my opinion, the quintessential family/love human drama, one that will last throughout the ages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Death
emtees's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Like almost everyone, I read this book as a kid and I remembered the important parts: the March sisters and the strong bond between them, Amy’s terrible crime against Jo, the drama around who everyone should have married and, of course, Beth’s death. . I didn’t have any clear sense of the narrative of the story, just these different, unconnected moments, but I was sure there had probably been more to the book than that.
After rereading, I can say that they’re really isn’t. Though there is a rough through-line in the story of the March sisters each striving to find happiness, or at least peace, with the lot they get in life, the book itself is very anecdotal. It begins with the girls all in their early teens and carries on over about a decade (with a sudden jump forward at the end), and the topic is ordinary life, with each chapter focusing on some event, big or small, in their lives. Some stories, like the love-triangle-that-really-isn’t, carry through several chapters, but the book is written as if it meant to be read one chapter at a time, with breaks between each.
After finishing it, I can say that Amy’s crime is still terrible, Laurie married the right sister and Jo, if she had to marry at all, probably picked the right man, andBeth’s death is still really sad. There are a few moments that really stick out, and Jo remains a great literary character, flawed and ambitious but also kind and generous, but she really ended up feeling like the only selling point for the books. Getting through the thick syrup of sentimentality to the interesting parts of the story was a struggle. Actually, the most interesting part of the volume I read was the introduction, since it talked about the contrast between the very conventional story Alcott wrote about a family that superficially resembled her own and the reality of her life as a politically progressive career woman. I think I would have preferred that story.
After rereading, I can say that they’re really isn’t. Though there is a rough through-line in the story of the March sisters each striving to find happiness, or at least peace, with the lot they get in life, the book itself is very anecdotal. It begins with the girls all in their early teens and carries on over about a decade (with a sudden jump forward at the end), and the topic is ordinary life, with each chapter focusing on some event, big or small, in their lives. Some stories, like the love-triangle-that-really-isn’t, carry through several chapters, but the book is written as if it meant to be read one chapter at a time, with breaks between each.
After finishing it, I can say that Amy’s crime is still terrible, Laurie married the right sister and Jo, if she had to marry at all, probably picked the right man, and
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Chronic illness
ginbat's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Well written but did not withstand the test of time. Perfect for when it was written, but reading it in 2023 was not a fun experience. Preachy, somewhat sexist, very Christian. Perhaps it should have been split up into multiple children's books instead. But it wasn't. It was over 500 boring pages of in your face morals and how we should settle. I do think Alcott was a great writer, especially for the time period, but I just would not recommend this book to anyone born in the 21st century.
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness, Sexism, and Death
em_gauts's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Chronic illness